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Are There Trees in Iceland?

The Question:

I would like to know where in Iceland trees grow. In what city or cities can they be found?

The Answer:

There aren't many trees in Iceland anymore. Once it was said to have been covered with trees and vegetation, but unchecked sheep grazing and logging for fuel and building materials over the years have changed all that. Now there are just a few small wooded areas, the biggest one being the forest at Hallormssta?í°ur on the east coast, and Vaglaskógur in the north.

The island country is about the size of Virginia and 11.5% of it is covered by glaciers. Only 21% of the land can handle vegetation, and all of that is along the coast. Most of the vegetation is grass, moss and shrubs in the southwest corner of the island between Reykjavik and Vik.

Still, Iceland isn't as cold as it sounds. According to travel guides, while it does get windy and cold in the winter, it never gets as bad as Chicago or Montreal.